Day 30

I haven't updated in a while but  it's because things have been so busy. I've finally made some friends who I can spend time with after work - my life as a hermit in Bangalore has officially come to a close. I met these new people because I finally found a shuttle from Biocon that takes me straight back to Woodstock. They immediately invited me to go on a trip to a place called Kaveri fishing camp on Saturday and I immediately said yes. I'm happy to say that the trip was a success. We got to the place late because the driver got lost but for Rs. 1300 ($29.50) I spent a day ziplining, crossing a bridge made of Burma Loops and kayaking. Afterwards we came back and ate at Forum Mall's food court where I ordered a Royal burger and got a chicken patty between two buns - beef is non-existent here so it was definitely wishful thinking on my part.

The next day I went to the ATM for the first time to withdraw cash after my splurge the day before. It was a fifteen minute walk along the highway but it went without a hitch. I also 'recharged' my phone which involves either finding a shop that has recharge cards for your carrier or doing it online somehow. I figured out a way to do the latter and felt quite accomplished at having completed two tasks in a day when the normal Indian doesn't even consider doing more than one thing over the course of a day. Lists are nonexistent here.

Later I went to visit my friend Tushar who I had been trying to meet since I got to Bangalore. We decided to meet up at a Chili's (American food after a long time) and then go to watch a Hindi movie.  Three hours later I stood outside the Chili's having actually reached a destination successfully. However, Tushar's cab didn't show up and I ended up watching the Portugal vs. North Korea match at the bar for an hour until he showed up. We ate quickly and left for the movie. We arrived at 5:15 for a 6:30 movie and found that the 500-person cinema hall had been sold out (for a movie that had been out for three weeks). We badgered the guy at the ticket counter asking if anyone had cancelled for a half hour at which point he said two seats had opened up. We immediately said we'd buy it. At that exact moment, my cousin walked by and yelled my name, surprised to see me in the same theater for the same movie. I turned and waved hi then turned back to the ticket counter to buy my ticket. Tushar looked at me disappointed - apparently in the span of my turning to wave to my cousin, the cashier had already sold one of the tickets. We left defeated by Indian crowds but ended up having a much more fun night watching both the Germany vs. England and Mexico vs. Argentina soccer games as well as jamming with some of Tushar's friends.